The following information was compiled from the Sammamish police reports:

STRANGE DEVICE

A Sammamish woman called police Oct. 19 to report a suspicious device she found in the front yard of her home in the 22000 block of Southeast 27th Street

The woman initially moved the device into her garage, but decided to call 911 after she realized it was larger than most fireworks. When police arrived they found a thick cardboard tube about the size of a toilet paper role, but much thicker. A red clay-like substance was plugged into one end and a string was looped through a hole on the other side. The bomb disposal unit was notified and identified the object as a benign mortar without powder.

BOTCHED THEFT

A manager at a Sammamish drug store called police Oct. 17 to report a customer stealing a knee brace, putting it on in the store and walking out. When police contacted the man, the 57-year-old Issaquah man admitted to taking the $51 knee brace, but disputed stealing it.

The man remained cooperative and returned the item to the store. Police released the man who could face charges of theft in the third degree.

ELDERLY ATTACK

A caretaker called police on a 90-year-old Sammamish woman who repeatedly slapped and clawed at her while she was driving the woman to the grocery store on Oct. 19.

The elderly woman grabbed at the steering wheel causing the driver to pull the emergency brake to stop the car. When police arrived, they advised the elderly woman that she needed to calm down, which she eventually did. The caretaker refused to press charges, but wanted the incident documented so other caretakers would be aware of the woman’s behavior.

EXTORTION FAIL

A Sammamish man contacted police Oct. 16 after someone attempted to extort money from him over the phone.

The man said he received a call from a man in Pennsylvania who claimed to be a state investigator and accused him of fraud, tax evasion and money laundering. The person on the other end of the phone said he needed a check for $450 or the man would be arrested.

The Sammamish man requested documentation in the investigation against him and the caller hung up.

Police discovered the number the man called from showed up in various internet searches as a phone scam.

UNRULY TENANT

A manager at a Sammamish apartment complex called police Oct. 17 to report threats made by a tenant.

The manager said she recently served the tenant a notice to vacate and that person has since called and started arguments and made threats.

The manager didn’t want the tenant to get in trouble, but to be talked to by police.

When contacted, the tenant said she was upset because she was paid up for the rest of the year and had been documenting things like black mold and other hazards. She said she was going to take the complex to the “Supreme Court.”

BANK FRAUD

A Sammamish couple contacted police Oct. 19 to report money falsely withdrawn from their bank account.

The couple had their home broken into earlier in the year and recently noticed large sums of money taken from their account.

Someone in Illinois withdrew $4,500 and another person made two separate withdrawls of $2,500 and $2,350 in Portland, Ore.

Police are investigating.

OFFICE THEFT

Police responded to the call of money missing from a lockbox of a Sammamish optometrist on Oct. 18.

When closing, an employee noticed $120 in cash missing from the box.

The business isn’t equipped with video surveillance and all three employees denied committing the theft.

According to the report, the owner was hoping to identify the thief so she could find out who was not trustworthy and fire that employee.

CHECKBOOKS FOUND

While traveling in the 2800 block of 228th Avenue Southeast, a Sammamish police officer was stopped by a citizen who found six checkbooks he found at the entrance of Pine Lake Park.

The checks were taken to evidence at the Sammamish Police Station.

MAIL THEFT?

A Sammamish man called police Oct. 21 to report a possible mail theft. The caller in the 400 block of Windsor Drive Southeast said nobody in the household had checked the mail since Oct. 18 and the family normally receives a large amount of mail daily. He said it would be very atypical for them to go even a single day without mail.

STOLEN WALLET

A Sammamish woman called police Oct. 20 to report her wallet missing in the 4000 block of 230th Way Southeast.

The woman said she believed her husband might have removed it from her car where she generally keeps it in the front passenger seat.

He had not done so and the wallet couldn’t be found anywhere in the car. The woman then realized she was also missing an iPhone and a $400 pair of sunglasses. There was also $350 cash in the wallet.

GRAFFITI

Police noticed graffiti on the gymnasium and a portable at Sunny Hills Elementary on Oct. 16.

The writing, done in large black, yellow and red spray paint, appeared to read Jase or Jace. It was comparable to graffiti recently found in the Pine Lake Plaza.